The Cather in the Rye Headed to the Big Screen?

It’s a sad fact that our long-held hopes of a movie adaptation of JD Salinger’s cult depiction of teen rebellion and angst, The Catcher in the Rye, might be realized now that -- and because -- the author died.

Salinger’s lifelong and passionate objection to the most sought-after script in the world ever being written and filmed meant some of the hottest stars of the last few decades had their ambitions thwarted: Brando, Nicholson, DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire were all keen to be Holden Caulfield. The increasingly reclusive writer rebuffed major studios and even big name directors like Steven Spielberg.

Of course, right now it’s a waiting game, and if his will specified non-publication, it’ll be close to 100 years before they come up for sale -- by which time many more generations of disaffected youth will have fallen under the spell of Holden Caulfield.